At the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Delphi Automotive Systems announced they have signed an innovation agreement to apply non-thermal plasma (NTP) exhaust aftertreatment to future Peugeot Citroen vehicles. NTP is a new aftertreatment technology, which is researched by Delphi and other emission control manufacturers for the reduction of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate emissions in direct injection gasoline and diesel engines.

NTP devices produce high energetic electrons that promote a number of oxidation reactions, such as the oxidation of NO to NO2. In plasma-assisted catalyst systems, the NO2 can be then reduced over a catalyst to non-harmful gasses. In addition, the NTP generated NO2 also enables a continuous regeneration of particulate filters.

Delphi reported that its plasma-assisted catalyst system, in steady-state testing of a diesel vehicle, has demonstrated greater than 65% reduction of NOx emissions without additional hydrocarbons to the exhaust stream, greater than 85% with additional hydrocarbons, as well as a “significant reduction in particulates”.